Jack stick connector

ABSTRACT

A device for connecting a jack stick to the harness frame of a loom in order to effect positive pull-down of the harness frame to cause shedding of the warp threads. The device includes a first and second connector means which are attached to the frame and jack stick, respectively. Positioned between the first and second connector means is an elongated flexible cable which allows the jack stick to move laterally relative to the frame during the weaving operation.

United States Patent [1 1 Daniel [4 1 Dec. 25, 1973 JACK STICK CONNECTOR [76] Inventor: Curtis M. Daniel, Rt. 5, Anderson,

[22] Filed: Jan. 27, 1972 [21] Appl. No.: 221,309

[52] U.S. Cl. 139/87 [51] Int. Cl. D03c 13/00 [58] Field of Search 139/82, 87, 88

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 367,028 7/1887 Dubois 139/87 871,096 11/1907 Sawyer 139/87 2,680,273 6/1954 Bricltman 139/88 Primary ExaminerHenry S. .laudon Attorney-Bailey & Dority [57] ABSTRACT A device for connecting a jack stick to the harness frame of a loom in order to effect positive pull-down of the harness frame to cause shedding of the warp threads. The device includes a first and second connector means which are attached to the frame and jack stick, respectively. Positioned between the first and second connector means is an elongated flexible cable which allows the jack stick to move laterally relative to the frame during the weaving operation.

2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures JACK STICK CONNECTOR This invention relates to looms, and more particularly to a connector device for connecting jacks sticks to the harness frames on the loom.

Heretofore, the method of connecting the jack sticks to harness frames usually incorporated metallic jack hooks, such as illustrated in US. Pat. Nos. 3,191,635 and 2,951,507. While these hooks allowed sufficient lateral movement of the jack stick relative to the frame during the weaving operation, such would wear out due to the metal to metal contact between the hooks extending from the frames and those extending from the jack stick.

Another problem of utilizing such jack hooks is that the hook portion of the jack hook often rubs against adjacent frames cutting through the wood of the frames thereby damaging the frames. The hooks also, sometime hang on an adjacent frame breaking components, such as the harness slat, jack stick, and treadle.

Accordingly, it is an important object of the present invention to provide a device for connecting a jack stick to the frame which is relatively simple and has a long life.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a device for connecting a jack stick to a frame that is flexible so as to permit lateral movement between the jack stick and the frame, rather than utilizing a pivotal connection, such as is present in jack hooks.

The construction designed to carry out the invention will be hereinafter described, together with other features thereof.

The invention will be more readily understood from a reading of the following specification and by reference to the accompanying drawing forming a part thereof, wherein an example of the invention is shown and wherein:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view illustrating a frame, a jack stick, and a device for connecting the jack stick to the frame of the loom constructed in accordance with the present invention,

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along line 2-2 of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 3 is an enlarged plan view illustrating the device for connecting the jack stick to the frame of the loom.

The drawing illustrates a device for connecting a jack stick A to a frame B of a loom. A first connector means C is carried adjacent one end of the device for engaging the harness frame B. A second connector means D is carried adjacent the other end of the device for engaging the jack stick A. An elongated flexible cable E is connected between the first connector means C and the second connector means D so that the device aids in supporting the jack stick A, while the flexible cable E allows the jack stick A to move laterally relative to the frame during the weaving operation.

The jack stick A is a conventional wooden jack stick which has a turnbuckle assembly coupled in the center thereof (only a portion being shown) for connecting the jack stick to one of the treddles for moving the harness frame up and down during the weaving operation. The warp thread extends through heddles carried within the harness frame B. During this weaving operation the jack stick A moves laterally relative to the frame B. Of course, it is to be understood that there are several harness frames positioned closely adjacent each other on the loom, such as illustrated in US. Pat. No.

3,191,635 granted to Butler et al., and [1.8. Pat. No. 3,053,284 granted to League.

In order to allow jack sticks to move laterally relative to the frame during the weaving operation the device which includes the elongated flexible cable E, is coupled between the jack stick A and the frame B.

The first connector means includes an elongated threaded bolt 12 which extends through a hole 14 in the lower side of the frame. A washer 16 and a nut 18 is threaded on the outer end of the bolt 12 for securing the bolt to the frame. The nut could be a self-locking nut so as to minimize the possibility of such becoming unscrewed during the weaving operation. Positioned on the opposite side of the frame is another washer 20 which abuts against an elongated tubular metal connector 22. The inner end of the bolt 12 extends within the elongated metal connector22 and is secured therein by crimping as illustrated by the crimp 24. An additional crimp 26 is provided for limiting the distance that the bolt 12 extends within the tubular connector 22.

The elongated flexible cable E, in one particular embodiment is a multistrand steel cable which has a plastic coating 28 thereon. The end of the elongated flexible cable E is inserted in the tubular connector 22 and secured therein by crimping as at 30. The other end of the flexible cable is inserted into another elongated tubular connector 22. The second connector means includes a bolt 12 which extends through a hole 32 in the jack stick and is secured to the jack stick by a nut and washer l8 and 16, respectively. The inner end of the bolt 12 extending through the jack stick A is inserted into the tubular connector 22 and fixed thereto in the same manner as the bolt 12, which extends through the harness B.

As a result of the flexible cable E positioned between the two connectors 22, the jack stick A is allowed to move laterally relative to the frame B without the connecting device interferring with the operation of adjacent frames. A further advantage of the connector device constructed in accordance with the present invention is that wear is minimizedsince there is no movement between connecting components other than the flexing of the cable E. As previously mentioned, when jack hooks are utilized for coupling the harness frame D to the jack stick A such produces a metal to metal wearing surface as a result of the pivotal connection which minimizes the life of a jack stick, as well as interferes with the operation of adjacent frames.

While a preferred embodiment of the invention has been described using specific terms, such description is for illustrative purposes only, and it is to be understood that changes and variationsmay be made without departing from the spirit or scope of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. A, device for connecting a jack stick to a harness frame of a loom comprising: a first rigid connector means carried adjacent one end for engaging said harness frame, a second rigid connector means carried adjacent the other end for engaging said jack stick, said connector means comprises elongated rigid elements which positively engaged with said harness frame and jack stick respectively forming rigid connections therewith, and an elongated flexible cable having opposed ends connected to said first connector means and said second connector means by clamp means, said clamp means forming a rigid connection between the ends of saidconnector means and said cable so to limit movement between the ends of said device solely to said caoperation. ble, whereby said device aids in supporting said jack 2. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said stick while said flexible cable allows said jack stick to elongated flexible cable is a multistrand steel cable. move laterally relative to said frame during a weaving 

1. A device for connecting a jack stick to a harness frame of a loom comprising: a first rigid connector means carried adjacent one end for engaging said harness frame, a second rigid connector means carried adjacent the other end for engaging said jack stick, said connector means comprises elongated rigid elements which positively engaged with said harness frame and jack stick respectively forming rigid connections therewith, and an elongated flexible cable having opposed ends connected to said first connector means and said second connector means by clamp means, said clamp means forming a rigid connection between the ends of said connector means and said cable so to limit movement between the ends of said device solely to said cable, whereby said device aids in supporting said jack stick while said flexible cable allows said jack stick to move laterally relative to said frame during a weaving operation.
 2. The device as set forth in claim 1, wherein said elongated flexible cable is a multistraNd steel cable. 